Well now somebody will probably draw that. Totally unnecessary as I already have several possible visuals playing in my head, but also somebody please draw this.
Panel one is clearly Becky still masking and telling Dorothy what she thinks she wants to hear so she can, like, go away (“it’s ok! You don’t need to apologize for anything! Everything’s fine!”). Then Dorothy goes and makes it weird by getting super defensive about the clothes thing, and at that point Becky just can’t help herself. Mx. Willis can you please get rid of the obnoxious ad that completely covered the text box as I was typing this.
I hate the ads that do that. They should get out of the way or at least have a button to shrink them after they explode all over the content, doing no favors to the bottom line because I’m not looking to support any advertisers with ads that aggressively anti-reader.
It was for Becky. Since Dorothy is not clairvoyant, she didn’t know in advance that it would do nothing for Becky, so she thought it was worth taking a shot that it would help at least a little.
Also it’s her way of reacting to anyone she feels she may’ve wronged whether she meant to or not. (She’s done this a lot, with the strong implication she’s been doing this for a long time. Tho’ notarised is an extra step, I think?)
I disagree. The apology at no point considered what Becky needed. It was Dorothy trying to address her own feelings of guilt and shame.
If she apologized to WALKY and he responded like this, then you’d be correct, but Dorothy hasn’t wronged Becky. She has nothing to apologize to her for.
Regardless of whether Dorothy wronged Becky or not, she was still harmed by Dorothy’s actions and friends tend to apologise for that regardless of whether they actually are at fault
This is a woman who canonically sends handwritten thank you notes for every gift she receives. She clearly believes that handwritten letters are more sincere and respectful
Plus, carefully writing down your thoughtful apology in advance dramatically reduces the odds that you will fuck up in the heat of the moment and say the wrong thing.
Mind you, learning to speak without fucking up and saying the wrong thing is a kind of important skill for a politician to have, so I’m surprised Dorothy hasn’t worked on it obsessively for years
Dorothy is Clairvoyant. Either she knew that the letter would have a positive result.
Or she saw that it would enrage Becky while looking good in Joyce eyes.
But either way this is on Dorothy.
I don’t understand this argument. I really want to but this justification confuses me. It doesn’t take clairvoyance. Dorothy knows why Becky is upset and she knows an apology won’t fix what has upset her.
Astarial took the premise, one objectively incorrect that the apology was for Beck since Dorothy isn’t Clairvoyant.
But since Dorothy is one of many characters with supernormal powers, prophetic dreams, visions hunches etc she is Clairvoyant. Understanding destroys the mystery. Hoe does Dina teleport into banks?
The answer is , just because. Shut up, it’s just a comic.
The real issues become intentions and does Becky know it.
I didn’t see the text of the letter. You didn’t. That changes everything
This is I think, maybe my biggest frustration with this storyline and it’s taken me a while to figure out what it was, but so many things have been done for the sake of a joke, to give a strip a gag, and it’s been really tonally confusing.
Dorothy’s apology isn’t about her as a character or her motivations. It’s just what Willis thought would be a funny way to end a strip, and this clothes thing is the same.
I mean, it definitely is for the sake of a joke, it’s just that Willis tries their best to ensure the joke is consistent with where the plot is meant to go and what the character might do that would be funny. But yeah all but a few strips haven’t meant to be humorous in some way – that’s also why we got the Joyce Stealing Dorothy from Walky strip, and why Walky’s coping mechanism has been nuggets, why he was kicked out of bed by Billifer, and why Joyce has been unrepentantly oversharing about having sex with Dorothy. They’re all choices that haven’t sat right with at least part of the fan base, and they’re all choices that the other part of the fan base sees for what they are – attempts at levity to keep a really difficult storyline from getting too dramatic and tense.
It was for Dorothy. Dorothy thought it was for Becky but she is attrocious at genuine remorse. Her guilt always seems kind of performative, like she THINKS she should prostrate herself, but never really thinks through that it might not be what the other person needs. It sure as hell isn’t what Becky needs, but frankly she owes Walky — and Joe — an apology more.
Dorothy does not need to have remorse for Becky, the prioiritisation of Becky has consistently hit as insane for me throughout this plot. Becky was happy with Dina, she staked no real claim on Joyce, Dorothy is not BFFs with Becky and owes her nothing for dating Joyce.
Yes, Dorothy should try to be better to Walky, and at least *thank* Joe for being so big about the situation, and apologise for not having treated him better when he was literally trying to open the door for her and Joyce. But nobody needs a notarised apology letter, Dorothy is just wracked with guilt over the whole situation, especially for Becky who has already been through so much.
I cringe for this Dorothy behavior because I’ve done this Dorothy behavior. It’s avoidance of a scary high tension space she doesn’t know how to navigate. Unfortunately it’s also tremendously disrespectful.
Gotta say I approve. Becky was told she couldn’t have what she wanted and has decided to just take it! Very leadership of her! A+! No notes! Dorothy could learn from her example.
I think what a lot of folks aren’t getting about this exchange is that the question isn’t “Is Dorothy’s apology sincere?” We know it is because we just saw her agonize over her actions in class. The real question right now is “Does Dorothy’s apology consider the needs of the harmed person, or is it primarily for exonerating herself?” *That’s* why it feels so hollow. You can see her teeing up to make this exact same mistake with Walky in the last storyline before Joyce HAHAHAHA’d her way outta there.
As others have said, (S/O Throwatron who swayed me on this last strip) Dorothy’s smart enough to understand she didn’t technically do anything wrong to Becky, but because of Becky’s issues she’s become collateral damage in the wake of Dorothy and Joyce’s actions. Saying “this is Becky’s problem to solve within herself” may be true, but it can’t stop the voice in Dorothy’s head screaming at her to “fix this!” So now we’re stuck at the impasse of “Dorothy can’t leave Becky alone out of fear she’ll hurt herself” and “Dorothy’s part in all of this means she *can’t* solve it and she should probably give Becky some space.”
Dorothy can’t leave Becky alone. Because this is where she literally lives and her clothes are here. It’s only an impasse because it’s written that way.
It’s not true that the comic isn’t complete without a homeless lesbian
Considering how little time it’s been in-comic since Becky found out about Doyce, I doubt Becky is actually fine with this. But I still think Dorothy should be trying to apologize to Walky and Joe more than Becky at this point.
I think she had three goals: get some clothes so she doesn’t have to keep wearing Joyce’s since those were the only clean ones available, check in on Becky, and take a punch if necessary. It’s her fault more or less that Joyce had an epiphany without telling her one lesbian friend first.
I think Dorothy is actually Naked because her clothes are in here.
I can’t wait till tomorrow when Becky strips off her coat while Dina or Joyce walk in
. because half the comments will be accusing Becky of SA. A third slut shaming Dorothy for breaking Dinas heart.
NGPZ, I know you’re taking a hard-earned break right now to focus on your health.
If you do peruse the comments, though, I saw this New Yorker article today on folks trying to leave the USA, and thought of you:
Loading ...
dorothy’s desperately trying to avoid revealing her shibari sweatervest
Well now somebody will probably draw that. Totally unnecessary as I already have several possible visuals playing in my head, but also somebody please draw this.
“It’s sweater-vests all the way down…” xD
A shibari sweater would basically macrame with carefully placed knots over the naughty bits.
“Take it off, or I’ll rip it off!”
“I’d like to see you try!”
And that’s how this story gets a sordid new twist.
It’s okay, my brain went there too
i need becky and dorothy to make out and have angry sex so bad
The whole cast just needs to fuck it out at this point.
“That wasn’t Tear Gas the National Guard was firing, it was FUCK GAS!”
“What’s a fuckass?”
you would know!
What about Dina? She does have a prior claim on Becky. unless you want a Joyce, Becky, Dina, and Dorothy foursome.
No, but I’ve heard worse suggestions.
NGL, that would be an awesome (drama-wide) twist.
Don’t trust sudden requests to strip.
yeah, kind of a step too far. We can only handle so much cheating in one comic.
I think the Paladins would literally explode.
Hmm, maybe Becky really should have started that apology portfolio.
Also, it’s cold in here, Becky! Probably because of that gas leak causing the heat not to work.
Campfire might help
Probably against dorm rules…
I would advise against the use of fire during a gas leak
She isn’t wearing Joyce’s clothing under that coat. Or, any for that matter.
That’s what I was thinking.
Panel one is clearly Becky still masking and telling Dorothy what she thinks she wants to hear so she can, like, go away (“it’s ok! You don’t need to apologize for anything! Everything’s fine!”). Then Dorothy goes and makes it weird by getting super defensive about the clothes thing, and at that point Becky just can’t help herself. Mx. Willis can you please get rid of the obnoxious ad that completely covered the text box as I was typing this.
Oh has that happened to you too? Re: ad. It’s a Hiveworks issue I suppose but it made the comic unreadable the other day.
I hate the ads that do that. They should get out of the way or at least have a button to shrink them after they explode all over the content, doing no favors to the bottom line because I’m not looking to support any advertisers with ads that aggressively anti-reader.
Panel 5 is backmasking
It says On
Also Dorothy’s apology did nothing for Becky so I have to ask again what was it for? Just for the sake of it? Because that means it was for Dorothy.
It was for Becky. Since Dorothy is not clairvoyant, she didn’t know in advance that it would do nothing for Becky, so she thought it was worth taking a shot that it would help at least a little.
Also it’s her way of reacting to anyone she feels she may’ve wronged whether she meant to or not. (She’s done this a lot, with the strong implication she’s been doing this for a long time. Tho’ notarised is an extra step, I think?)
I disagree. The apology at no point considered what Becky needed. It was Dorothy trying to address her own feelings of guilt and shame.
If she apologized to WALKY and he responded like this, then you’d be correct, but Dorothy hasn’t wronged Becky. She has nothing to apologize to her for.
Regardless of whether Dorothy wronged Becky or not, she was still harmed by Dorothy’s actions and friends tend to apologise for that regardless of whether they actually are at fault
Why should she. What Becky needs isn’t Dorothy job. That’s been Joyce and Dina.
This is why Becky needs to move in with Robin.
Lumino, If she apologized to Walky and got the same response, a demand to remove clothing …
What were we talking about again?
Why would Dorothy think Becky would want a written, notarised apology instead of something verbal anyway?
This is a woman who canonically sends handwritten thank you notes for every gift she receives. She clearly believes that handwritten letters are more sincere and respectful
Yea but. Like. Know your audience.
Plus, carefully writing down your thoughtful apology in advance dramatically reduces the odds that you will fuck up in the heat of the moment and say the wrong thing.
Mind you, learning to speak without fucking up and saying the wrong thing is a kind of important skill for a politician to have, so I’m surprised Dorothy hasn’t worked on it obsessively for years
Dorothy is Clairvoyant. Either she knew that the letter would have a positive result.
Or she saw that it would enrage Becky while looking good in Joyce eyes.
But either way this is on Dorothy.
I don’t understand this argument. I really want to but this justification confuses me. It doesn’t take clairvoyance. Dorothy knows why Becky is upset and she knows an apology won’t fix what has upset her.
Astarial took the premise, one objectively incorrect that the apology was for Beck since Dorothy isn’t Clairvoyant.
But since Dorothy is one of many characters with supernormal powers, prophetic dreams, visions hunches etc she is Clairvoyant. Understanding destroys the mystery. Hoe does Dina teleport into banks?
The answer is , just because. Shut up, it’s just a comic.
The real issues become intentions and does Becky know it.
I didn’t see the text of the letter. You didn’t. That changes everything
I am pretty sure, based on the indent that Sirksome was responding to Astarial…
Obv
100% for Dorothy.
It was for the sake of a joke.
This is I think, maybe my biggest frustration with this storyline and it’s taken me a while to figure out what it was, but so many things have been done for the sake of a joke, to give a strip a gag, and it’s been really tonally confusing.
Dorothy’s apology isn’t about her as a character or her motivations. It’s just what Willis thought would be a funny way to end a strip, and this clothes thing is the same.
I feel like both punchlines are pretty in-character?
Also, feels a little quick on the draw to say it’s just for the sake of a joke when the scene isn’t even over yet.
I mean, it definitely is for the sake of a joke, it’s just that Willis tries their best to ensure the joke is consistent with where the plot is meant to go and what the character might do that would be funny. But yeah all but a few strips haven’t meant to be humorous in some way – that’s also why we got the Joyce Stealing Dorothy from Walky strip, and why Walky’s coping mechanism has been nuggets, why he was kicked out of bed by Billifer, and why Joyce has been unrepentantly oversharing about having sex with Dorothy. They’re all choices that haven’t sat right with at least part of the fan base, and they’re all choices that the other part of the fan base sees for what they are – attempts at levity to keep a really difficult storyline from getting too dramatic and tense.
a gag-a-day strip will gag each day, after all
It was for Dorothy. Dorothy thought it was for Becky but she is attrocious at genuine remorse. Her guilt always seems kind of performative, like she THINKS she should prostrate herself, but never really thinks through that it might not be what the other person needs. It sure as hell isn’t what Becky needs, but frankly she owes Walky — and Joe — an apology more.
Dorothy does not need to have remorse for Becky, the prioiritisation of Becky has consistently hit as insane for me throughout this plot. Becky was happy with Dina, she staked no real claim on Joyce, Dorothy is not BFFs with Becky and owes her nothing for dating Joyce.
Yes, Dorothy should try to be better to Walky, and at least *thank* Joe for being so big about the situation, and apologise for not having treated him better when he was literally trying to open the door for her and Joyce. But nobody needs a notarised apology letter, Dorothy is just wracked with guilt over the whole situation, especially for Becky who has already been through so much.
As I said last strip, going through all the paperwork and notary shit is the clue that the apology is for Dorothy’s sake.
Hey, cold weather dressing is ALL about multiple layers…
Multiple laying is what the clothes are there to prevent…
Proud of Becky to not even glance at or acknowledge the letter like it wss going to help how bad the situation is.
Folding/crumpling it up and tossing it away like the worthless thing it is.
That’s just because she’s a slob. She throws everything on the floor.
Back to calling her Dotty, huh.
But now she means it.
Dorothy what was the point of trying to lie? Just be honest about this shit. I think Becky would respect that even if she doesn’t like it.
I cringe for this Dorothy behavior because I’ve done this Dorothy behavior. It’s avoidance of a scary high tension space she doesn’t know how to navigate. Unfortunately it’s also tremendously disrespectful.
She is a mess and I love her.
Nothing more substantive to say than that tonight, but it seemed worth saying anyway!
Not sure which one you’re talking about, but I guess it’s pretty applicable either way.
I meant Dorothy in this instance but you know what, Becky too, for sure.
Unfortunately Becky can’t be part of the polycule, she can only name two of the Beatles
(Also, Mega Man 12? Holy shit what?)
(Mega man 11 complex part 2) (Ringo Paul Jon and Ron)
No wonder Dorothy is so on edge.
Alternate version of the last panel with that one meme template
And that’s how, ironically, Becky got to see her crush’s girlfriend naked.
kissin’, and cuddlin’, and wearin’ each other’s clothes.
Actually in that order, I believe.
October 2026? Walky still not talking to Joyce? Oh wait, this is like, just tomorrow for them.
Looks like for my birthday next year I’m getting some enemies-who-are-married-in-the-other-universe sexual tension.
Gotta say I approve. Becky was told she couldn’t have what she wanted and has decided to just take it! Very leadership of her! A+! No notes! Dorothy could learn from her example.
..Wearing next to Nothing
given becky’s usual level of self-entitlement re: joyce, it’s a wonder she can’t determine if dorothy has her clothes on by smell alone
I think what a lot of folks aren’t getting about this exchange is that the question isn’t “Is Dorothy’s apology sincere?” We know it is because we just saw her agonize over her actions in class. The real question right now is “Does Dorothy’s apology consider the needs of the harmed person, or is it primarily for exonerating herself?” *That’s* why it feels so hollow. You can see her teeing up to make this exact same mistake with Walky in the last storyline before Joyce HAHAHAHA’d her way outta there.
Why is that the question?
The harmed person is Amber
Then Dina, Walky, and Joe.
As others have said, (S/O Throwatron who swayed me on this last strip) Dorothy’s smart enough to understand she didn’t technically do anything wrong to Becky, but because of Becky’s issues she’s become collateral damage in the wake of Dorothy and Joyce’s actions. Saying “this is Becky’s problem to solve within herself” may be true, but it can’t stop the voice in Dorothy’s head screaming at her to “fix this!” So now we’re stuck at the impasse of “Dorothy can’t leave Becky alone out of fear she’ll hurt herself” and “Dorothy’s part in all of this means she *can’t* solve it and she should probably give Becky some space.”
Dorothy can’t leave Becky alone. Because this is where she literally lives and her clothes are here. It’s only an impasse because it’s written that way.
It’s not true that the comic isn’t complete without a homeless lesbian
Are you a mineral?
Considering how little time it’s been in-comic since Becky found out about Doyce, I doubt Becky is actually fine with this. But I still think Dorothy should be trying to apologize to Walky and Joe more than Becky at this point.
I think she had three goals: get some clothes so she doesn’t have to keep wearing Joyce’s since those were the only clean ones available, check in on Becky, and take a punch if necessary. It’s her fault more or less that Joyce had an epiphany without telling her one lesbian friend first.
If she’s wearing her sweater vest then we’ve reached critical mass
It’s about time Dorothy stood up to Becky. I hope a physical fight breaks out.
For the comments section.
You guys are getting dull.
Becky is being like:
“This message will auto-destroy in 5 seconds”
Don’t worry, she’s always on duty!
Yea now reverse genders and see if that sound funny. Wait a minute
::laugh track, sitcom jingle::
Damn, it took her three in-story hours to respond, and Becky just stood there patiently. It’s canon.
Oh no…. Becky radiates bad juju on that first panel. :/
[Citation needed]
Honestly, Dotty picking one specific denial that can be very easily disproven tells me she just may have a future in politics after all.
I think Dorothy is actually Naked because her clothes are in here.
I can’t wait till tomorrow when Becky strips off her coat while Dina or Joyce walk in
. because half the comments will be accusing Becky of SA. A third slut shaming Dorothy for breaking Dinas heart.
Yes. And cuddle with Becky too now.
Patreon ‘teaser’ frame is heartbreaking…..
“Okay, then, take off your pants”
NGPZ, I know you’re taking a hard-earned break right now to focus on your health.
If you do peruse the comments, though, I saw this New Yorker article today on folks trying to leave the USA, and thought of you:
https://archive.is/JOmN3
Take good care of YOU.
Could have had better chance of working if Becky had given herself a Joyce-y haircut instead.
https://www.dumbingofage.com/2022/comic/book-12/05-this-was-halloween/childhoodhome/
Found this and I think it is a good example of how Becky feels about Joyce.